As a vendor who’s partnered with Arizona State University for the past three years—mostly supplying tech tools and classroom materials for undergrad and grad programs—I’ve learned that ASU’s student body diversity isn’t just a buzzword for their admissions office. It’s the beating heart of how the university operates, and every interaction I’ve had with students across campuses has reinforced that. When I first started pitching my company’s materials in 2021, I assumed diversity meant just race and ethnicity, but I quickly realized ASU’s definition is far more nuanced, rooted in their mission to be a public university for the whole state and beyond. ASU
Let’s start with the numbers, because that’s where the scale of ASU’s diversity hits you first. In the 2023-2024 academic year, ASU’s total enrollment topped 133,000 students across four main campuses (Tempe, West, Polytechnic, and Downtown Phoenix) plus online programs. That’s the largest public university student body in the U.S., per recent National Center for Education Statistics data. Break down those numbers, and you’ll see: 25% of students identify as Hispanic or Latino, 8% as Black or African American, 6% as Asian, 3% as two or more races, and less than 1% as Native American, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, or Other Pacific Islander. But race and ethnicity are just the tip of the iceberg. ASU also has one of the highest Native American student populations among public universities in the country, with over 2,500 Indigenous students enrolled. I’ve met a handful of these students while delivering materials to the Indigenous Student Union (ISU) on the Tempe campus; they shared that ASU’s Native American Student Services (NASS) program is a big reason they chose the school, and that’s exactly the kind of support that draws diverse groups in.
Age diversity is another layer that’s often overlooked, and it’s something I noticed early on when I started visiting campuses. I’d set up supply bins for a morning class, and half the students would be 18 or 19, fresh out of high school, while the other half were in their 30s, 40s, even 50s, balancing classes with full-time jobs and families. As of 2023, about 17% of ASU’s undergraduate students are over the age of 25, which is higher than the national average for public four-year universities (around 14%, per NCES). Last semester, I worked with a grad student in the W. P. Carey School of Business who was a former nurse studying for an MBA to move into healthcare administration. She told me she’d tried two smaller state schools before, but ASU’s flexible online class schedule let her keep working night shifts while taking courses. That’s the kind of student who makes ASU so diverse—they’re not just a traditional 18-year-old, and their perspectives add so much to classroom discussions.
Socioeconomic diversity is where ASU’s commitment to access really shows, and that’s something I’ve gotten to witness through vendor partnerships too. ASU is a designated Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) and a Minority-Serving Institution (MSI), with over 50% of students coming from households where the total annual income is under $50,000. But more than that, 1 in 3 ASU students are the first in their families to go to college. I remember a time last year when I was dropping off laptops for the First-Gen Student Success Center on the Downtown Phoenix campus. A staff member there told me that 62% of the students they support are from low-income backgrounds, and many rely on ASU’s financial aid and work-study programs to cover tuition. This kind of diversity means that classrooms aren’t just full of different faces—they’re full of different life experiences. A first-generation student might talk about how their family’s emphasis on practicality shapes their approach to engineering, while a student from a more privileged background might bring a different perspective on global internships. That mix makes every class more interesting, and it’s why ASU graduates stand out in the workforce.
Gender and LGBTQ+ diversity are also core to ASU’s student body, and I’ve seen how that translates to campus culture. According to ASU’s 2023 Campus Climate Survey, about 12% of students identify as transgender or gender non-conforming, and the university has dedicated resources like the LGBTQ+ Student Association and the Transgender Health Program on campus. When I visited the Polytechnic campus last quarter, I helped set up materials for a workshop hosted by the PRISM Alliance, ASU’s LGBTQ+ student group. The room was packed with students of all genders and identities, and it was clear that inclusivity isn’t just an afterthought—it’s woven into how ASU runs. I’ve also noticed that gender ratios are pretty balanced across most programs, though some fields like engineering have more male students, while education and nursing have more female students. But even in those areas, ASU has programs to encourage underrepresented genders, like the Women in Engineering program, which is a big draw for female students who might not feel supported at other tech-focused schools.
International diversity is another big part of ASU’s identity, even though it’s easy to focus on the large in-state student body. As of 2023, over 11,000 international students from more than 150 countries are enrolled at ASU, with the top countries being India, China, Canada, and Saudi Arabia. I’ve met a lot of these students while working with the Global Launch program, which helps international students adjust to U.S. academia. Last spring, I delivered textbooks to a Global Launch writing class, and a student from Kenya told me he chose ASU because of its online program options, which let him stay in touch with his family while earning a master’s in computer science. That’s the kind of student who brings global perspectives to campus, whether that’s talking about international climate policies in a public policy class or sharing traditional recipes at campus cultural events.
What’s most impressive to me, as a vendor, is that ASU doesn’t just collect these diverse students—it invests in creating a space where they can thrive. I’ve seen this in small, everyday ways: labeling classroom supplies in multiple languages for international students, hosting cultural events in every campus quad, and offering flexible payment plans for students who need them. It’s also shown in how the university partners with local businesses like mine to support these students. For example, ASU’s career services often connect my company with interns from different backgrounds, which not only helps our business but also gives students real-world experience. Last year, we hired an intern from the Native American Student Union who helped us develop culturally sensitive marketing materials, and she’s now a full-time employee. That’s the kind of partnership that works because ASU’s diversity isn’t just a statistic—it’s integrated into every part of the university, including its relationships with vendors.
But diversity at ASU isn’t without challenges. I’ve talked to ASU’s student affairs team about how they work to support students who might feel marginalized, like Native American students who have to balance their cultural identities with college life, or low-income students who might struggle with the cost of materials. They told me that they’re constantly refining programs, like expanding free textbook programs for first-gen students and adding more mental health resources for LGBTQ+ students. That commitment to growth is what makes ASU’s diversity meaningful—not just a number on a website, but a lived experience for every student who walks through campus doors.
As a vendor who’s worked with ASU for three years, I can say that this diversity has made our work better. When we supply materials, we have to think about the needs of a student body that’s 133,000 strong—from a single mom taking night classes online to an international student who needs tech support in their native language. That makes our products more inclusive, which in turn helps more students succeed. If you’re a business looking to partner with ASU, I can tell you that the university values vendors who understand and support their diverse student body. Whether you’re supplying classroom tech, food services, or career training materials, connecting with the procurement team at ASU means working with a team that’s focused on supporting all students, no matter their background. If you’re interested in exploring a partnership to support ASU’s diverse student community, I encourage you to reach out.
GYDTA References
Arizona State University Office of Institutional Analysis. (2024). 2023-2024 Enrollment Snapshot.
National Center for Education Statistics. (2023). Digest of Education Statistics: Undergraduate Student Age.
Arizona State University Division of Student Affairs. (2023). Campus Climate Survey Report.
Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities. (2023). HSI Institutional Profile: Arizona State University.
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